U.S. patent number 3,695,493 [Application Number 05/068,173] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-03 for method and apparatus for applying or removing gloves.
Invention is credited to Robert J. Karr.
United States Patent |
3,695,493 |
Karr |
October 3, 1972 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING OR REMOVING GLOVES
Abstract
This invention relates to a mechanism for and method of applying
and removing fluid impermeable gloves without the necessity of
manually contacting the exterior of the gloves. The mechanism
employed comprises a means for suspending and sealing a glove
within a vacuum chamber and means for evacuating the chamber to
outwardly distend the glove to a size greater than that of the
user's hand. After the insertion of the hand into the distended
glove, the chamber is restored to atmospheric pressure and the
glove fits the hand due to the inherent resiliency of the
previously distended glove. The hand, with the glove applied
thereto, is simply removed from the chamber. A reversal of this
procedure, i.e., inserting the gloved hand into the chamber
evacuating the chamber, and removing the hand, leaves the glove
suspended in the chamber. The present disclosure provides a novel,
inexpensive, pedal-operated device for carrying out these functions
simultaneously on both hands of a user.
Inventors: |
Karr; Robert J. (Wyandotte,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
22080869 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/068,173 |
Filed: |
August 31, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
223/111; 312/1;
2/162 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G
25/904 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
25/00 (20060101); A47G 25/90 (20060101); A47j
051/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/1 ;223/111
;2/159,162,165 ;141/65 ;92/34 ;251/61 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mitchell; James C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for the sterile manipulation of gloves to attach
and remove a pair of gloves from the hands of a wearer,
comprising:
a frame having a first longitudinal housing section and a second
similar longitudinal housing section spaced therefrom, each of said
housings being tubular and defining upper and lower superimposed
chambers in communication with one another, said lower chamber
being a vacuum chamber, said upper chamber being open at the top
and each of said upper chambers containing a hollow open topped
form of substantially egg-shape in plan and further shaped to
substantially resemble a truncated lower arm portion of the human
anatomy, with its lower end connected to and in sealed
communication with said lower chamber, said truncated form being at
least as long as the glove fingers, there being one chamber for all
the fingers and a single chamber for the glove thumb, means for
evacuating said lower chamber, the pair of gloves, each having a
reinforced sealing rim of substantial egg-shape at the wrist
portion thereof, a hollow upright pilot extension at the upper end
of the form and of substantial egg-shape with its walls oriented
with the form open end, each of said gloves adapted for insertion
into one of said forms oriented and guided by said pilot extension
with said reinforced sealing rim extending circumferentially over
the upper edge of said form opening to seal said form and said
upper chamber opening and to assure the proper location of the
glove thumb and glove fingers within the corresponding form
openings, so that when said lower chamber is evacuated, said forms
in said upper chambers will be evacuated, causing said gloves in
said forms to expand outwardly against the internal surface of said
forms permitting the wearer to easily move his hands relative to
the gloves positioned in said forms.
2. An apparatus for the sterile manipulation of gloves to attach
and remove a pair of gloves from the hands of a wearer,
comprising:
a frame having a first longitudinal housing section and a second
similar longitudinal housing section spaced therefrom, each of said
housings being tubular and defining upper and lower superimposed
chambers in communication with one another, said lower chamber
being a vacuum chamber, said upper chamber being open at the top
and each of said upper chambers containing a hollow open-topped
form shaped to substantially resemble a truncated lower arm portion
of the human anatomy, with its lower end connected to and in sealed
communication with said lower chamber, means for evacuating said
lower chamber, the pair of gloves each having a reinforced sealing
rim at the wrist portion thereof, each of said gloves adapted for
insertion into one of said forms with said reinforced sealing ring
rim extending circumferentially over the upper edge of said form
opening to seal said form and said upper chamber opening, so that
when said lower chamber is evacuated said forms in said upper
chambers will be evacuated causing said gloves in said forms to
expand outwardly against the internal surfaces of said forms
permitting the wearer to easily move his hands relative to the
gloves positioned in said forms, each of said forms being supported
on a cup-like member disposed in the bottom of said upper chamber;
said form at its lower end having an extended finger portion and a
thumb portion separated therefrom; said finger and thumb portions
being open at their lower ends and extending into said cup-like
member; a plate attached to the lower end of said form adjoining
said finger and thumb portions and adapted to support said form on
said cup-like member along the upper rim thereof; said means
providing communication between said vacuum chamber and the
interior of said form comprising a tube in said cup-like member in
communication with said vacuum chamber for selective passage into
or evacuation of air from said form through the open ends of said
finger and thumb portions within said cup; and sealing means
circumferentially disposed between the rim of said cup-like member
and said support plate of said form.
3. In the apparatus as defined in claim 2, said communication tube
extending upwardly through said cup and said finger and thumb
portions of said form extending into said cup a distance below the
upper open end of said tube; whereby said cup provides a trap to
catch fluids or solid contaminants dripping from the gloves
suspended within said form to prevent entering of the contaminants
into said vacuum chamber below said cup.
4. An apparatus for the sterile manipulation of gloves to attach
and remove a pair of gloves from the hands of a wearer,
comprising:
a frame having a first longitudinal housing section and a second
similar longitudinal housing section spaced therefrom, each of said
housings being tubular and defining upper and lower superimposed
chambers in communication with one another, said lower chamber
being a vacuum chamber, said upper chamber being open at the top
and each of said upper chambers containing a hollow open-topped
form shaped to substantially resemble a truncated lower arm portion
of the human anatomy, with its lower end connected to and in sealed
communication with said lower chamber, means for evacuating said
lower chamber, the pair of gloves each having a reinforced sealing
rim at the wrist portion thereof, each of said gloves adapted for
insertion into one of said forms with a said reinforced sealing
ring rim extending circumferentially over the upper edge of said
form opening to seal said form and said upper chamber opening, so
that when said lower chamber is evacuated said forms in said upper
chambers will be evacuated causing said gloves in said forms to
expand outwardly against the internal surfaces of said forms
permitting the wearer to easily move his hands relative to the
gloves positioned in said forms, said means for evacuating said
lower chamber comprising an expanible bellow assembly having an
upper and lower closure plate, means supporting said bellows
assembly in said lower chamber adjacent the upper end thereof, an
opening in said upper closure plate of said bellows assembly
opening onto said form, and actuating means for moving said lower
closure plate downwardly to evacuate said form, an equalizing and
cut-off valve means carried by one of the closure plates of said
bellows assembly; said one closure plate having an opening; a valve
plunger reciprocably disposed in said opening; a stem on said valve
plunger extending toward the other of said closure plates of said
bellows assembly to normally retain said valve plunger in an open
position when the stem abuts said other closure plate at which the
interior of the bellows assembly communicates with the atmosphere;
a disc attached to said valve plunger, said disc closing the one
closure plate opening when the bellows is actuated by moving the
closure plates away from one another.
5. An apparatus for the sterile manipulation of gloves to attach
and remove a pair of gloves from the hands of a wearer,
comprising:
a frame having a first longitudinal housing section and a second
similar longitudinal housing section spaced therefrom, each of said
housings being tubular and defining upper and lower superimposed
chambers in communication with one another, said lower chamber
being a vacuum chamber, said upper chamber being open at the top
and each of said upper chambers containing a hollow open-topped
form shaped to substantially resemble a truncated lower arm portion
of the human anatomy, with its lower end connected to and in sealed
communication with said lower chamber, means for evacuating said
lower chamber, the pair of gloves each having a reinforced sealing
rim at the wrist portion thereof, each of said gloves adapted for
insertion into one of said forms with a said reinforced sealing
ring rim extending circumferentially over the upper edge of said
form opening to seal said form and said upper chamber opening, so
that when said lower chamber is evacuated said forms in said upper
chambers will be evacuated causing said gloves in said forms to
expand outwardly against the internal surfaces of said forms
permitting the wearer to easily move his hands relative to the
gloves positioned in said forms, said means for evacuating said
lower chamber comprising an expandible bellows assembly having an
upper and lower closure plate, means supporting said bellows
assembly in said lower chamber adjacent the upper end thereof, an
opening in said upper closure plate of said bellows assembly
opening onto said form, and actuating means for moving said lower
closure plate downwardly to evacuate said form, an equalizing and
cut-off valve means having a movable valve plunger reciprocally
disposed in an opening in the lower closure plate; a stem on said
valve plunger engaging said upper closure plate normally retaining
the valve plunger in an open position when the bellows in inactive
and movable to closed position when the lower closure plate is
moved downwardly.
6. An apparatus for the sterile manipulation of gloves to attach
and remove a pair of gloves from the hands of a wearer,
comprising:
housings frame having a first longitudinal housing section and a
second similar longitudinal housing section spaced therefrom, each
of said hosings being tubular and defining upper and lower
superimposed chambers in communication with one another, said lower
chamber being a vacuum chamber, said upper chamber being open at
the top and each of said upper chambers containing a hollow
open-topped form shaped to substantially resemble a truncated lower
arm portion of the human anatomy, with its lower end connected to
and in sealed communication with said lower chamber, means for
evacuating said lower chamber, the pair of gloves each having a
reinforced sealing rim at the wrist portion thereof, each of said
gloves adapted for insertion into one of said forms with a said
reinforced sealing ring rim extending circumferentially over the
upper edge of said form opening to seal said form and said upper
chamber opening, so that when said lower chamber is evacuated said
forms in said upper chambers will be evacuated causing said gloves
in said forms to expand outwardly against the internal surfaces of
said forms permitting the wearer to easily move his hands relative
to the gloves positioned in said forms, said means for evacuating
said lower chamber comprising an expandible bellows assembly having
an upper and lower closure plate, means supporting said bellows
assembly in said lower chamber adjacent the upper end thereof, an
opening in said upper closure plate of said bellows assembly
opening onto said form, and actuating means for moving said lower
closure plate downwardly to evacuate said form, said actuating
means further including an attachment member extending from said
lower end plate for operable attachment to a manual actuator to
thereby extend said bellows assembly against the force of said
resilient member upon actuation of said actuator.
7. In the apparatus as defined in claim 6, said manual actuator
comprising a foot treadle operably connected to both said bellows
assemblies in said first and second housing sections for
simultaneous operation of both.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to gloved handling devices which
accommodate the attachment and removal of gloves from the hands of
a user without the necessity of touching the gloves with the bare
hands. Thus, it is possible to avoid contamination of the gloves
while placing them on the hands (as is necessary in the application
of sterile surgeon's gloves or the like), and it is also possible
to remove the gloves without contacting the exterior of the gloves
manually (as is necessary where the outsides of the gloves are
contaminated after usage with chemicals, radiation or the
like).
Anyone who has ever attempted to apply and remove elastomeric
gloves, of rubber, plastic or the like, will be completely familiar
with the problems which are involved. In order to stay in place on
the hands and in order to avoid the loss of the sense of touch by
the user, the glove must fit tightly. This means that the hands and
the gloves are of essentially the same size and the gloves must be
rolled onto, stretched over, and vigorously pulled onto the hands.
If the hands are wet or if the sterility of the gloves must be
maintained, the difficulties are greatly multiplied. Much the same
difficulties are encountered in removing the gloves, since they
must be peeled from the hand. Once again, additional difficulties
are encountered where the gloves are wet or where they are covered
with harsh detergent, corrosive chemicals or the like materials
harmful to the bare hands of the user trying to remove the
gloves.
The present invention solves the difficulties of applying or
removing the gloves in a very simple manner. The glove is simply
placed into and sealed within an air-tight chamber surrounding the
glove, the surrounding chamber is evacuated and the glove is
distended radially outwardly uniformly along its length, the
fingers being individually distended. When the glove is so
distended, the hands of the user can be readily inserted into or
removed from the glove, and this is true even where the hands of
the user are wet or where the glove would normally be too small for
the hand of the user. The application and removal of the gloves is
accomplished without the necessity of the user manually contacting
the exterior of the gloves, thus maintaining sterility during
application of the gloves and preventing contact with any harmful
substances on the gloves during removal.
In addition to the broader aspect of the invention as above set
forth, the present application is also concerned with a specific
glove applying and removing apparatus which is portable,
inexpensive and effective to apply or remove both gloves of a pair
from the user's hands at the same time.
More specifically the present apparatus includes two housing or
compartment sections disposed adjacent each other, and each such
section has a vacuum chamber in the lower portion thereof and a
glove retaining chamber superimposed thereon. Each of the glove
retaining chambers contains a form shaped to resemble the lower
portion of the left or right arm of the human body and at the lower
end the form is in open communication with the vacuum chamber in
each compartment. The upper ends of the compartments and the forms
are open to permit insertion of gloves into the forms. The gloves
are provided with a rim seal around the wrist end of the glove
which provides a retainer for the glove to maintain the glove in
the form and at the same time provides a circumferential seal
around the upper edge of the form.
Each of the vacuum chambers surmounts a spring loaded bellows which
has a valve normally connecting the interior of the bellows with
the atmosphere in the inoperative position of the device. The lower
ends of the bellows are connected to opposite ends of a treadle
disposed between the vacuum chambers. Upon depression of the
treadle, the bellows will be extended and the valves in the lower
closure plates are closed to interrupt communication with the
atmosphere, causing the forms in the glove retaining compartment
sections to be evacuated. The gloves thus are distended outwardly
to permit a person to insert his hands into the vacuum expended
gloves within the compartments or to remove his hands from the
gloves. Upon release of the treadle, the spring loaded bellows are
returned to their normal collapsed position, thereby returning air
at atmospheric pressure into the forms. The gloves then return to
their normal configuration surrounding the hands of the wearer. At
the upper end of the collapsing movement of the bellows, the air
valves of the bellows automatically open to establish communication
with the atmosphere, thereby equalizing the air pressure between
the out-side and inside of the gloves in the forms.
The present invention will be best understood by reference to the
following detailed description of a preferred embodiment
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of
the improved in which:
FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the device with parts broken away
and shown in cross-section for clarity;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-section through the device in FIG. 1
as seen along line 3--3 thereof;
FIG. 4 is a perspective "exploded" view of parts of the device in
FIG. 1 illustrating their superimposed relationship in
assembly;
FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-section through a bellows assembly
incorporated in the device in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fractional cross-section through the rim
portion of a flexible glove to be used with the present device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With continuing reference to the drawings, the present novel glove
handling device, generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1 to 3,
comprises a frame structure 12 which has a base or bottom plate 14
for support of the device 10 on the floor or other supporting
surface.
The bottom plate 14, at opposite ends, supports a pair of housing
16 and 18, respectively, which extend vertically upwardly therefrom
in parallel aligned relationship to each other.
Each of the housings 16 and 18 is made up of two sections
superimposed upon each other of which the lower sections 20 are
attached to the base plate 14 and the upper sections 22 are
interconnected by a cross-span 24. The pair of lower and upper
housing sections 20 and 22, respectively are divided from each
other along a horizontal place 26 so that the pair of upper housing
sections 22 can be removed as a unit from the pair of lower housing
sections 20 for servicing and cleaning of the device.
In assembly, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing sections 20 and 22 are
held together in vertically aligned relationship by means of
releasable clamps 28 as indicated in FIG. 1. The cross-span 24 is
connected between the upper housing sections 22 and is provided
with a pair of egg shaped apertures 32' which serve to retain a
pair of utility gloves (not shown) in ready position as will be
explained more in detail further on in the description. Adjacent
the upper surface of the cross-span 24, a handle 34' is pivotally
mounted to the opposed inner side walls of the upper housing
sections 22, so that the glove handling device 10 can be
conveniently carried from one location to another. The handle 34'
is normally folded down upon the cross-span 24 as seen in FIGS. 1
and 2.
Both housings 16 and 18 of the device 10 are of identical
construction and have identical internal operating parts and thus,
it will be sufficient to describe only one thereof, it being
understood that the description applies to the opposite housing as
well with reference numerals applied to the same parts.
Thus, with reference to the left-hand housing 16, the superimposed
housing sections 20 and 22 are of tubular structure and aligned
along a vertical axis. The lower housing section 20 forms a tubular
chamber or compartment 25 which is open at the top by means of an
aperture 27. The aperture 27 receives and supports an bellows
assembly 30 by means of a radial flange 35 overlying said chamber
25.
With particular reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the bellows assembly 30
comprises a bellows 34 which is circumferentially sealed at the top
to the top plate or flange 32 and at the bottom to a bottom plate
36. The bellows 34 is collapsed in retracted position by means of a
contraction coil spring 38 disposed internally of the bellows 34
and having its upper end coil secured to the bellows top plate 32
by means of clamps 40 and screws 42 and its lower end coil is
secured by similar means to the bottom plate 36.
A rod 44 is centrally fastened to the underside of the bottom plate
36 of the bellows for axial extension therefrom. A pin 46 extends
in transverse direction through the rod 44 and outwardly to both
sides thereof for attachment of the rods 44 to the underside of one
end of a treadle 48 normally disposed above the base plate 14 in
horizontal, parallel alignment therewith. The treadle 48 extends
transversely into both lower housing sections 20 for attachment to
the rods 44 of the bellows 34, as seen in FIG. 1. The intermediate
portion of the treadle 48, between the opposed housing sections 20,
forms a foot pad 50 for actuation of the treadle 48 downwardly
towards the base plate 14. Normally, the treadle 48 is held in the
raised position as shown in FIG. 1, by means of contraction of the
springs 38 within the respective bellows 34. When the treadle 48 is
depressed against the combined forces of the springs 38, the
bellows 34 are simultaneously extended downwardly thereby
increasing the volume of the bellows.
As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the top plate 32 is centrally provided
with an aperture 52 which opens into the upper housing section 22.
Thus, when the bellows 34 are expanded by means of a force on the
treadle 48, air is pulled from the forms 96 in the upper housing
sections 22 through the trap 78 and into the expanding bellows 34,
as will be understood, and a partial vacuum occurs in the forms 96
in the upper housing sections 22.
As particularly seen in FIG. 5, the bottom plate 36 of the bellows
assembly 30 is likewise provided with an aperture 54 into which
extends a plunger 56 which is telescoped inwardly of the bellows 34
within a plunger housing 58 secured to the bottom plate 36. The
plunger 56 is attached outwardly of the bottom plate 36 to a
flexible valve plate 60 which is spring biased in the direction
towards the bottom plate 36 by means of a spring 62 supported on
the end of a bracket 64 which is attached to the underside of the
bottom plate 36.
The plunger 56 is provided with a slot 66 to provide communication
between the interior of the bellows and the atmosphere when the
plunger is extended outwardly from the bottom plate 36, as shown in
FIG. 5. The slot 66 in the plunger 56 communicates through an
aperture 68 in the plunger housing 58, with the interior of the
bellows 34 and thus, normally connects the interior of the bellows
34 to the atmosphere. The inner end of the plunger 56 is attached
to the end of an actuating rod 70 which movably extends through the
plunger housing 58 upwardly through the bellows 34 for normal,
inoperative abutment against the underside of the top plate 32 of
the bellows assembly 30 to retain the valve plate 60 in the open
position.
As seen from the position shown in FIG. 5 (the inoperative position
of the bellows assembly), the rod 70, by abutment against the
underside of the top plate 32 of the bellows assembly, displaces
the valve plunger 56 outwardly against the force of the valve
closing spring 62 to expose the slot 66 to the atmosphere. When the
treadle 48 is depressed downwardly, the rod 70 is moved away from
the top plate 32, thereby causing the spring 62 to expand and move
the plunger inwardly to close the slot 66 against the atmosphere
and cause the flexible valve plate 60 around the valve aperture 54
to tightly close the aperture. Further continuing downward movement
of the treadle 48 then causes air to be drawn through the aperture
52 in the top plate 32 into the bellows 34 for a purpose to be
described more in detail hereafter.
With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the upper housing
section 22 is likewise of tubular configuration corresponding in
cross-section with the tubular cross-section of the lower housing
section 20. The upper housing section 22 is open at the bottom for
circumferential abutment upon the upper rim 21 of the lower housing
section 20 around the bellows assembly 30 disposed below the top
plate 32 which closes the upper end of the lower housing section
20. The upper end of the upper housing section 22 is open, as at
72, and has a pilot extension 74 having an egg-shaped opening 76 in
axial alignment with the opening 72.
The upper housing section 22 is elongated into vertical direction
and is adapted to receive a cup-like member or trap 78 having an
irregular somewhat triangular cross-section as seen in FIG. 4. The
cup-like member 78 is retained in the lower portion of the chamber
or compartment 23 of the upper housing section 22 for support on
the top plate 32 of the bellows assembly 30 which forms the top
closure for the chamber 26 of the lower housing section 20. The
cup-like member 78 is formed by a circumferential wall 80 and a
bottom 82. The wall 80 provides an upper rim 84.
A short tube 86, which is open at both ends, projects through the
bottom 82 of the cup-like member and extends upwardly into the
cup-like member 78 and also extends downwardly from below the
bottom 82, as shown in 88 in FIG. 4. At one lower corner, the
cup-like member is provided with a pin 90 extending from the bottom
82 and fitting into a pilot hole 92 in the top 21 of the lower
housing section 20.
In assembly, the cup-like member 78 is placed on the top 21 of the
lower housing section 20 and over the top plate 32 of the bellows
assembly 30, so that the dependent tube section 88 extends through
the central aperture 52 of the top plate 32 into the interior of
the bellows 34. Simultaneously, the guide pin 90 is inserted into
the pilot hole 92 for properly rotationally positioning the
cup-like member 78 on the lower housing section 20.
The upper surface of the top plate 32 of the bellows assembly 30,
around the central aperture 52, is provided with sealing ring 94
extending circumferentially around the aperture and which may be
bonded to the plate 32. When the cuplike member 78 is placed into
position, a seal is established between the underside of the bottom
82 of the cup-like member 78 and the upper surface of the top plate
32 of the bellows assembly 30.
The elongated compartment 23 of the upper housing section 22 is
further adapted to receive a contoured form, generally indicated at
96, which is shaped roughly to resemble a hand and lower arm
portion of a human body. It will be understood that one of the
housing sections 22 receives a form 96 resembling the lower
left-arm portion of the human body and the opposite housing section
22 receives a similar form 96 resembling the right lower arm
portion of the human body. Thus, the forms 96 and cup-like members
78 of both housing sections are identical, mirror images of one
another.
The form 96 is hollow and comprises an upper truncated arm and
wrist portion 98 which is open at the top providing a
circumferential edge 100. The form 96 extends downwardly, from the
wrist portion 98, into a widened finger portion 102 extending along
a transverse, curvilinear axis and a thumb portion 104 separated
from the finger portion and substantially comprising a tubular
body. Both, the finger portion 102 and thumb portion 104 of the
form 96, are open at their lower ends and project through a support
plate 106 which joins both portions together. This plate 106 is
substantially triangularly shaped in a horizontal plane transverse
to the central axis of the form 96, to match the substantially
triangular shaped form of the cup-like member 78.
The finger portion 102 and thumb portion 104 of the form 96 extend
through the joining plate 106 and below thereof to form extensions
103 and 105, respectively. The lower side of the plate 106 of the
form 96 is provided with a sealing ring 109 adapted for sealing
engagement around the free upper circumferential edge 84 of the
cup-like member 78.
In assembly, the form 96 is placed in vertical position upon the
open top of the cup-like member 78, so that the extension 103 of
the finger portion 102 and extension 105 of the thumb portion 104
project into the cup-like member between the wall 80 and the tube
86, as seen in FIG. 1. When so assembled, the support plate 106
supports the form 96 upon the top of the cup-like member 78, and
the sealing ring 109 forms an air-tight seal between the cup-like
member 78 and the form 96.
It will be noted that the members 78 and 96 are supported one on
top of the other and both on top of the lower housing section 20 by
their own weight, without the use of any fastening means, such as
screws or clamps or the like. A shoulder 22a inside the housing
sections 22, respectively, engages the plate 106 and urges the
members 78, 96 and 32 into sealing engagement. The adjoining
interfaces of the members are separated by surface sealing means 94
and 109 which provide effective air-tight seals when the members
are assembled together in the position shown in FIG. 1.
Both the cup-like member 78 and the associated form 96 are
preferably made as by molding or the like, from a light-weight
synthetic material of a type having heat and chemical resistance
characteristics.
It will be seen from FIG. 1 that (following assembly of the form 96
on the cup-like member 78) the extended finger portion 103 and
thumb portion 105 extend into the cup-like member 78, a distance
below the upper open end of the tube 86, which provides open
communication with the interior of the bellows 34 disposed in the
lowerhousing section 20. Thus, when the treadle 48 is depressed
downwardly to expand the bellows 34, the valve 60 is closed
instantly permitting air to be evacuated from the form 96 through
the extended finger portion 103 and thumb portion 105 within the
cup-like member 78 by means of the communicating tube 86.
It will also be noted from FIG. 1 that the left-hand upper housing
section 22 contains a left-hand form 96 and the opposite upper
housing section contains a right-hand form 96. The perspective
illustration in FIG. 4, in this instance, depicts the right-hand
form 96.
Each of the forms 96 in the upper housing sections 22 are adapted
to receive a utility glove, indicated at 108, which is preferably
made of a resilient, expansible rubber like or similar pliable, air
and fluid impermeable material. The utility glove 108 has a wrist
portion 110 which terminates in an open gauntlet or rim 112, which
is circumferentially reinforced by a ring 113 of substantially
rigid material as seen in FIG. 6. This ring maintains the shape of
the rim which is formed in a substantial egg shape to compliment
the egg shaped aperture 76 in the pilot extension 74 of the upper
housing sections 22 and the similarly egg shaped circumferential
upper edge 100 of the forms 96. Conventionally, the glove
terminates in fingers 114 adapted for insertion into the finger
portion 102 of the form 96 and a thumb portion 116 adapted for
insertion into the thumb portion 104 of the form 96 as seen in
FIGS. 1 and 4. When the glove 108 is inserted into the form 96 as
shown, the gauntlet or or sealing rim 112 at the upper end of the
glove, will be seated upon the upper edge 100 of the form in
sealing engagement therewith and so as to retain the glove in
suspended position within the form 96. Opening 76 in pilot
extension 74 is adapted to guide and correctly orient the glove and
its rim into sealing position.
In operation of the apparatus, when it is desired to put on gloves,
a pair of gloves 108 are placed in their respective forms 96 in the
upper housing sections 22 of the apparatus so that the fingers 114
of the glove extends into the finger portion 102 and the thumb 116
of the glove extends into the thumb portion 104 of the form 96. The
ring 113 of the glove supports the glove in suspended position
within the form and sealing the interior of the form against the
atmosphere. Thereafter, when the foot pedal 48 is depressed, the
bellows 34 are simultaneously expanded, causing instant closing of
the valves 60 at the bottom of the bellows to cut communication
with the atmosphere.
Further expansion of the bellows 34 by continuing pressure on the
pedal or treadle 48 to the position shown at 48' in FIG. 1, causes
air, trapped in the forms 96 by means of the sealing rims 112 of
the gloves 108, to be evacuated from the forms 96. This evacuation
is accomplished through the communicating tube 86 in the cup-like
member 78 and through the extended finger and thumb portions 103
and 105 respectively of the forms 96, which extend into the
cup-like member 78. The seal 94 between the top plate 32 of the
bellows assembly 30 and the cup-like member 78, together with the
seal 109 between the cup-like member 78 and the form 96,
effectively prevent seepage or entrance of air therebetween. The
forms 96 will be substantially evacuated of air which is being
pulled into the expanding bellows 34 for captive retainment
therein.
As seen at the right in FIG. 1, evacuation of air from the forms 96
causes the wrist portion 110, fingers 114 and thumb 116 of each
glove to expand or distend outwardly into tight engagement against
the inner surfaces 97 of the forms 96, provided for by the
resilience of the glove material. The gloves 108 remain then in the
expanded position as long as the foot treadle 48 is depressed,
thereby permitting a person to effortlessly put his hands in the
respective gloves in the forms 96. The foot treadle 48 may then be
released causing the bellows return springs 38 to contract or
collapse the bellows 34. The lower retainer plates 36 of the
bellows act as a piston to push the air, previously pulled into the
bellows 34, back upwardly through the communicating tube 86 into
the cup-like member 78 and from there through the finger and thumb
extensions 103 and 105 back into the forms 96. The gloves 108 are
allowed to return to their original shape, in effect collapsing
inwardly into tight engagement with the hands and wrist of the
wearer. At the upper end of the pressure return movement of the
bellows 34, and just prior to the end of the stroke, the rod 70 of
the equalizing and cut-off valve 60 comes in abutment against the
top plate 32 of the bellows assembly 30, causing the rod 70 to move
the plunger 56 outwardly of the bottom plate 36 to again expose the
slot 66 in the plunger. This action re-establishes communication of
the interior of the bellows with the atmosphere, to thereby finally
and fully equalize the pressure between the gloves and the interior
of the form 96.
Conversely, if it is desired to remove gloves from the hand of a
wearer, the wearer places his gloved hand into the respective left
or right hand form 96 within the upper housing sections 22 of the
apparatus, so that the fingers 114 extend into the finger portion
102 and the thumb 116 into the thumb portion 104 of the forms and
the sealing rim 112 is in sealing abutment with the upper edge 100
of the forms. Thereafter, the wearer depresses the foot pedal or
treadle 48 causing expansion of the bellows 34 which repeats the
above described process of evacuating air from the forms 96 around
the gloves 108, to cause expansion of the gloves against the
internal surfaces 97 of the forms 96. Thereafter the wearer
effortlessly can remove his hands from the gloves. Upon release of
the treadle 48, the empty gloves then remain suspended within the
respective forms 96 and can thereafter be removed at any desirable
time for disposal of the gloves or cleaning by gripping the upper
rim 112 of the gloves.
The cup-like member 78, in cooperation with the finger and thumb
extensions 103 and 105 and the communicating tube 86 of the
cup-like member, effectively prevents the entering of contaminants,
fluids or the like into the bellows 34. An effective liquid trap is
provided by the shape and position of the extensions 103 and 105
relative to the communicating tube 86, which, as seen in FIG. 1,
has an upper open end disposed above the lower open ends of the
finger and thumb extensions 103 and 105 of the form 96. Any
contaminants or fluids dripping from the gloves 108 in the forms
will pass downwardly onto the bottom 82 of the cup-like member 78
without entering the communicating tube 86 in the cup.
It will be seen from the foregoing description and with reference
to the appended drawings that the present improved, glove
manipulating apparatus 10 can be easily and quickly disassembled
for cleaning and servicing of the various units and thereafter be
quickly reassembled, requiring no special skill or removal of
fasteners or the like.
Disassembly is accomplished simply by unlocking the side catches 28
which secure the upper housing sections 22 to the lower housing
sections 20, thereafter the upper housing sections can be removed
as a unit due to their connection by the cross-span 24. The
respective forms 96 and cup-like member 78, normally retained in
the upper housing sections 22, are then exposed and can be simply
taken apart since they are not fastened to each other nor to the
lower housing sections 20. The collected contaminants and fluids
can then be removed from the cup-like member 78, and the apparatus
is quickly reassembled in reverse order.
In order to service the bellows assembly assembly 30, the bottom
ends of the lower housing sections 20 are open to gain access to
the interior of the chamber 25 in order to move the pin 46 of the
operating rod 44 of the bellows 34 from the retaining slots 47 in
the underside of the treadle 48 by pulling the rod 44 downwardly.
This releases the connection between the treadle 48 and the bellows
operating rod 44. The expansible member 30 can then be lifted out
through the top aperture 27 at the upper end of the lower housing
sections 20.
Although the cup-like members 78 and forms 96 are preferably made
of molded synthetic material as described herein and for the
purposes above explained, all members of the apparatus, including
the housings and the members 78 and 96, may be made of any
desirable and available material, such as plastics or metals.
As previously stated herein, the utility gloves 108 to be utilized
with the present improved, glove manipulating apparatus must be
made of resiliently expandable rubber or rubber-like material. The
gloves have a sealing rim at the open or wrist end of the glove,
shaped in plan view to conform with the cross-sectional shape of
the open upper end of the forms 96 for circumferential sealing
engagement therewith. Although the opening 76 in the housing
section 22 as well as the open upper ends of the forms 96 and the
sealing rim 112 of the gloves have been shown and described herein
to resemble an egg-shape, any other suitable cross-sectional
configuration may be utilized, providing the openings are large
enough to accommodate a variety of sizes of hands of persons using
the apparatus, and should be preferably of such shape as to closely
resemble the actual shape of a human arm and hand.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to
a particular embodiment, it will be obvious to anyone skilled in
the art to which the invention pertains that various changes in
structure, arrangement and details may be made without departing
from the spirit and essential characteristic of the invention as
defined by the scope of the appended claims.
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